A coalition of 16 states, including four from New England, fought the Trump administration in court on Tuesday. They want to overturn the president's decision to end DACA, a program protecting immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman represented the states in court to argue several motions in the case.
The federal government sought to dismiss the suit, while the states wanted an injunction to stop the shutdown of the program.
Schneiderman says the so-called "DREAMers" work and play by the rules, and contribute to society.
"I’m here representing a large group of states, because our state universities rely on DREAMers," he said. "Our state hospitals rely on DREAMers. They work for state agencies and community agencies. They have children who are American citizens."
The lawsuit alleges the Trump administration targeted Mexicans with its decision to end the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals program last year. Schneiderman says that is in violation of the due process clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont have joined the suit.
The NEPR Newsroom contributed to this report, which comes from WSHU Public Radio.
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